Singer On Rogue, Claws & "X-Men: Apocalypse"

Both director Bryan Singer and producer talked with Empire Magazine recently about their upcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past" issue. In the process, they answer some key questions about that film and the franchise's future.

Singer says while 'Days' will blend the old and new X-Men franchise casts, the subsequent "X-Men: Apocalypse" is much more a straight-up "First Class" sequel. Events in it will take place after 'Days' and will only feature the younger cast because "What happens in this movie [Days] brings about what'll happen in that movie [Apocalypse]."

Singer shoots down the rumor of a 'Future Past' credits stinger teasing "Apocalypse," a stinger that suggests the villain mutant has alien origins. Singer says: "That's not the case, and neither will that particular thing be in the film. People were concerned we were making Apocalypse an alien. It's odd. I don't know where that came from."

Talking about the character of Apocalypse, Singer says: "One thing that interests me is the notion of ancient mutants. What would people thousands of years ago, without the benefit of science, think mutants were? And more importantly, what would mutants thousands of years ago think they were? Gods? Titans? Angels? Demons? And if such mutants did exist thousands of years ago, what became of them? Did one survive?"

Though he's not signed to direct it yet, he's definitely keen on the gig: "I’m co-writing the story and I’m producing it, and I’m negotiating to direct. We’re in the process. We’re trying to figure it out, schedules. My desire would be to direct it."

Onto more minor matters and one big question coming up is Wolverine's claws. Left with only bone claws at the end of "The Wolverine," many are wondering why Hugh Jackman's adamantium claws are back in action in the future-set scenes of "X-Men: Days of Future Past" and if the film will explain it.

While not outright confirming or revealing anything, Singer does suggest Magneto could reconstitute Wolvie's adamantium claws because the pair now have a different relationship in this outing.

Finally there's the issue of Anna Paquin's Rogue who got her own Empire cover despite her key sequence being cut from the film. Singer says despite the cut of that scene, it "does not mean that we won't see her in the film" and in any case he's very keen to ensure that scene makes it to the DVD/Blu-ray release.